World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2018

The 30th July marks the United Nations day against trafficking in persons. This year the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has chosen responding to the trafficking of children and young people as a focus for the day.

This year’s campaign highlights that 30% of victims of trafficking are children. Children are trafficked for multiple purposes including sexual and labour exploitation, forced criminality, forced marriage and as child soldiers.

The UNODC suggest that children that have been trafficked need protecting by timely identification of victims, a safe environment, adequate social services and psycho-social support.

The day allows everyone the opportunity to reflect on the realities of trafficking, the shared responsibility for it and show solidarity with the victims.

The campaign challenges both individuals and the international community to work together to prevent people being trafficked, to help to identify and protect victims and disrupt the criminal networks that sit behind these crimes.

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Pope Francis reminded everyone to ‘Hear the cry of our many brothers and sisters who are criminally trafficked and exploited. They are not merchandise. They are human beings and they must be treated as such.’